1893-91.] THE CLIMATE OF ALBERTA. 4^ 



THE CLIMATE OF ALBERTA. 



Bv R. F. Stupart. 



{^Read jth April, 18Q4:] 



Not long since, in looking over some meteorological observations made 

 at Edmonton, N. W. T., it struck me it would not be amiss to write a 

 short paper on the climate of Alberta, which portion of the Dominion 

 has, I conceive, a climate more than fairly desirable as regards mere 

 living in it, and I trust also one that will make the country widely known 

 for its rich farming and pasture lands ; on the latter point, however, I am 

 no expert, and am unable to speak authoritatively. 



From mere hearsay and newspaper reports one may well be somewhat 

 puzzled as to the facts concerning the climate of our great Northwest. 

 We hear people talk of a country where 20° below zero does not feel cold^ 

 and of a country further west where lawn tennis is an amusement some- 

 times indulged in at Christmas, and again of howling blizzards and 

 Arctic cold. 



Meteorological observations taken at various points in the Territories 

 during periods ranging from nine to twenty years, afford sufficient data 

 to report with a fair degree of accuracy on the climatic vicissitudes 

 which may be experienced, such series containing, as they probably do^ 

 seasons of extremes in both directions, one or more of which will at any 

 rate approach the greatest ever experienced in the country. 



In considering the climate of Alberta, nine years observations at Cal- 

 gary and eleven at Edmonton have been closely studied and analyzed, but 

 beyond the more detailed investigation of the climatic changes occurring 

 from month to month, and in various years, I shall endeavour to shew 

 how it is that this particular part of the Dominion is subject in winter to^ 

 very great temperature changes in a short time, bitter cold giving place 

 in a few hours to balmy weather under the softening influence of the 

 chinook. A valuable and instructive paper published in the "American 

 Meteorological Journal" for August, 1888, by Mr. C. C. McCaul, of Cal- 

 gary, N. W. T., points out very clearly the wonderful effect so often pro- 

 duced by a change of wind from north and northeast to southwest and 

 west, how the temperature will in a few hours jump up from 20° below 

 zero to 40° above and a thick covering of snow rapidly disappear, and 

 also deals very correctly with some of the conditions that produce these 

 balmy westerly breezes in winter. 

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